RAPID TRANSIT FOR SUBURBIA

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has operated in North America in a fairly low key way for more than 30 years. Recently, however, it has enjoyed something of a renaissance with announcement of a Demonstration Program in USA. In words of former Federal Transit Administrator BRT is a visionary that combines planning and new technology allow buses to operate with speed, reliability and efficiency of light rail vehicles at a fraction of cost and the Federal Transit Administration wants reinvent bus service in this country. The transformation of streetcar into modern light rail transit (LRT) through a systems approach right-of-way, stations, vehicles, fares, information, and so on suggests what could be done with BRT. This paper reviews history of operations and planning in North America and comments on current developments from perspective of objectives of Federal Transit Administration. It concludes that taken together, several of projects on drawing board have real potential position as an attractive rapid transit choice and a more viable alternative LRT than it has been in past. (a) For covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E205948.